my first thought, when I opened the enormous box this monster arrived in was... "Holy Cow!"
I know it's a bit unoriginal but it's the best I could come up with in that moment.

I realize this has no bearing on the story within but it was the first thought associated with the book so I feel it's worth sharing. I've noticed in a lot of the other reviews I've seen that people are excited to have all three stories in one place but I can't help pointing out the opposite side to this. The book is enormous. For me, it's been a bit of a hindrance. It's difficult to read a book that is so large - in paperback. If the book were a hardbound, with a more flexible spine, I would have had a much easier time with it - which is why I read it on my e-reader. However, I can see the appeal. It is nice to have all three books in one volume. It is nice not to have to track down three different books. And it's nice to have only one price to pay instead of three. I can't really attest to the last one since I received the book free in exchange for an honest review from Blogging for Books but It makes sense to me.

My fascination with historical stories began with the Little House books. My mother read them to me as a child and I'm reading them to my children. As anyone who has read these knows, the stories are told through the eyes and voice of a child but they are true stories and Laura Ingals Wilder does a superb job of it in my opinion.

Laura Ingals Wilder and Jane Kirkpatrick have that in common but the similarity ends there. Laura lived her story, Jane did not. She took the life of a woman who lived long before any of us were even born and made her real to us. It's a daunting enough task to write about a fictional character who lived many years ago but to write with such passion about an actual person, someone who you have never met or spoken with... that shows an incredible skill. I am not alone in my admiration and I intend to seek out more books written by Jane Kirkpatrick.

A wonderful read!

Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I received Emma of Aurora as a book to review. While normally I am quick to write reviews, Emma of Aurora combined three books into one. So far I am not a fan of the combined books, it is something about the thickness and weight of the book that makes it seem so long to get through. Emma of Aurora is based off a true story of Emma Wagner Giesy. Emma was a very strong, independent minded woman. The first book A Clearing in the Wild: we follow Emma on her journey along the Oregon Trail. A place is chosen for the new colony to break ground. With everyone excited and looking forward to this new place, the leaders arrive to only disapprove of the location. This breaks the colony, Emma being one who chooses to stay and others continuing towards Oregon. Second Book Tendering in the Storm: Emma looses one husband and marries another, only her second husband is not ideal. Emma must make a decision for herself and her children. Will she stay or will she go? Aurora may be what her children need to flee from the abuse. Third Book Mending at the Edge:Can Emma submit? Can she allow her children to leave her so that they are surrounded by the male figures they so desperately need. Will Emma be able to submit to the colony, to others? Although not a book I would re-read, I did enjoy it for the historical fiction. I encourage you to read it for yourself and perhaps you will find enjoyment, allow yourself the time to read through the three books without rush ^I received this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review*

The Synopsis:

A Clearing in the Wild

“When Emma’s outspoken ways and growing skepticism lead to a clash with the beloved leader of her 1850s Bethel, Missouri, colony, she finds new opportunities to pursue her dreams of independence. But as she clears a pathway West to her truest and deepest self, she discovers something she never expected: a yearning for the warm embrace of community.”

A Tendering in the Storm

“Determined to raise her children on her own terms, Emma suddenly finds herself alone and pregnant with her third child, struggling to keep her family secure in the remote coastal forest of the Washington Territory. As clouds of despair close in, she must decide whether to continue in her own waning strength or to humble herself and accept help help from the very people she once so eagerly left behind.”

A Mending at the Edge

“As a mother, daughter, sister, and estranged wife, Emma struggles to find her place inside–and outside–the confines of her religion community. Emma reaches out to others on the fringe, searching for healing and purpose. By blending her unique talents with service to others, she creates renewed hope as she weaves together the threads of family friends, and faith.”

My Review:

First, I have to say, that when I requested this book, I didn’t realize that it was a volume, so it is the entire Change and Cherish Trilogy (giving it over 1000 pages!). I say that to say that I haven’t yet finished it yet. I’m not even close to finishing, it is just too overwhelming.

But, I am nearly finished with part one of the first book, so I am going to go ahead and write a review (so I don’t go crazy!). It is written in first person, which I really enjoy, and the detail is amazing. I also admire the character’s personalities, which are very believable and realistic. I also like the time period the story takes place in.

I am going to say that this story does line up with some of the Bible studies I have been doing. The tribe that Emma lives in believes that they must remain hidden in the wilderness to keep their faith alive and that anyone who is not a part of them is wicked and worldly. However, Emma believes that you should be in the world, but not of the world, as Jesus tells us Christians to do, and tries to bring everyone else into that understanding. It is a very inspirational story and I look forward to finishing the book, but because it is so large, I am just taking it easy;-)


“I received this book from Water Brook Multnomah for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are my own.” ( )

Title: Emma of Aurora (The Complete Change & Cherish Trilogy)
Author: Jane Kirkpatrick (www.jkbooks.com)
Pages: 1168
Year: 11/2013
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Let me start by saying that discovering this author was one of the greatest finds in recent memory for me. Jane writes historical fiction with heart, adventure and gripping action. Along with those qualities, the characters also reflect what a life of faith might have looked like for a small community of Bethelites who desire to be separate from the world. In this particular trilogy, beginning with the first novel, A Clearing in the Wild, a young woman named Emma wants to strike outside the bounds of communal living in order to go with her new husband and other scouts as they seek new land that is father away from the “world”. During her adventures she learns a lot about herself, marriage and traveling in uncharted territories.
The second book is titled, A Tendering in the Storm, continuing Emma’s story to the delight of those who love historical fiction. Emma is now parenting alone, which is hard enough, but what makes it more difficult is that she longs to raise her children her way. Again, Emma is striking out to live beyond the boundaries or to put it another way to stretch her wings. Emma is a strong-willed woman, having discovered who she is and how to live without the support of her husband.
In the final installment of the trilogy, A Mending at the Edge, Emma has decisions to make in order to be able to live life that is not always at odds with her new husband or community. As discomfort closes in, Emma seeks to locate others who find themselves in the same place of life, which opens up for her a purpose that she hadn’t perceived before.
Jane Kirkpatrick paints a story of a real live person in a historical setting who isn’t perfect, but as flawed as all other humans. Emma was a flesh and blood woman who loved God and longed to live her life in a way that pleased God while discovering what her purpose in life was among other believers. I think readers will appreciate the rich history of Emma and other characters, along with discovering a period of history. Emma was just like all women who long to be available and of use to God, living her life serving others. The other plus of this volume is being able to continue reading without waiting to locate the sequels as well as the author sharing with the audience from the start which characters were real and those who truly were fictitious.
My rating is 5 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )